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Heavy Metal guitar players that use single coils (no humbuckers)

39K views 33 replies 24 participants last post by  Matt Johnsen 
#1 ·
Okay so I remember never really being a fan of single coils or Marshalls until the day that I plugged a vintage strat into a jcm 800 and cranked the shit out of it. I played the riff to ANIMAL (Fuck Like a Beast) by W.A.S.P. and BOOM that was the tone in my head. Heavy and raw with lots of bite. All of my current guitars have humbuckers.

I was trying to think of heavy metal guitar players that have this sort of set up and the only guys I could think of are Yngwie, Uli Jon Roth, and the guys from Iron Maiden. I know there are more so I was wondering what guys I'm missing!

Please add to my list!


:metal:
 
#4 ·
Paul Gilbert's using them in his Fireman guitar right now. IIRC, there's a vid on the Dimarzio website about why he got into single coils.

Other than him...

Richie Kotzen
Michael Lee Firkins
James Byrd
George Bellas
 
#6 ·
Just thought of another. Doug Aldritch rocks quite a few different strats along with his Les Pauls.:)

If we're including guys who use HSS or HS configurations, then I can add a few more.

80s era Alex Lifeson.
George Lynch.
Andreas Kisser.
Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton.
Steve Stevens.
Jake E. Lee.

Personally, I love the sound of a neck single-coil for leads, and a bridge humbucker mixed with a middle single coil for clean tones.

He's not really a metal player, but you should really investigate how Steve Morse incorporates single coils into his tone, as that guy's an absolute master at exploiting the personalities of different pick-up combinations.
 
#7 ·
Personally, I love the sound of a neck single-coil for leads, and a bridge humbucker mixed with a middle single coil for clean tones.
:wub:

I 100% agree. I adore HSS guitars. It's the perfect pickup configuration for me. I also love the sounds you mentioned. :D

One more HSS player is Vernon Reid.
 
#24 ·
I absolutely LOVE that tune - I remember finding it on mp3.com years and years and years ago, and thinking it was just perfect.

These days, I think I'm more into H-H with a coil tap so I can have it both ways, but the fundamental point remains - a neck single coil is an AWESOME lead sound.

Also, Andy Timmons. :yesway:
 
#27 ·
Just thought of another one...

Morgan from Marduk plays a stock strat as his main guitar these days.:)
 
#33 ·
Borislav Mitic and Michael Romeo have both used stock strats in the past, but seem to mostly use them in the studio and go for HH guitars onstage.
 
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